The use of an orthopedic aid with two parts (15, 16) which are movable relative to one another and with a locking device for locking the two parts (15, 16) in a predetermined relative position and for unlocking the parts (15, 16) in order to permit movement of the parts (15, 16) with respect to one another is made much safer by virtue of the fact that at least one signaling arrangement (36, 40, 41, 42) is provided which emits a particular signal for the locking state or upon unlocking of the locking device. The risk of accidents due to the parts (15, 16) being incorrectly locked is at least substantially reduced.
|
16. An orthopedic aid which is used by a patient for walking and which provides a supporting function for the human body, comprising:
two parts which are rotatable relative to one another;
a locking device for locking the two parts in an extended position so that a rotation of the two parts is blocked during standing and walking and for manually unlocking the two parts to permit rotation of the two parts with respect to one another in a rest position, wherein said locking device is operable by a user of the orthopedic aid;
means for automatically detecting the locking state of said locking device; and
a signaling arrangement which emits a signal, responsive to said means for automatically detecting the locking state, upon unlocking as a warning signal in the event of inadvertent unlocking of the locking device.
1. An orthopedic aid which is used by a patient for walking and which provides a supporting function for the human body, comprising:
two parts which are rotatable relative to one another;
a locking device for locking the two parts in an extended position so that a rotation of the two parts relative to one another is blocked during standing and walking and for manually unlocking the two parts to permit rotation of the two parts with respect to one another in a rest position,
wherein said locking device is operable by a user of the orthopedic aid;
means for automatically detecting locking of said locking device; and
a signaling arrangement which emits a signal, responsive to said means for automatically detecting said locking, for alerting the user of the orthopedic aid that the locking of said locking device has taken place.
2. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
3. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
4. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
5. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
6. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
7. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
8. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
9. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
10. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
11. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
12. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
13. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
14. The orthopedic aid as claimed in
15. An orthopedic aid as in
17. An orthopedic aid as in
|
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an orthopedic aid with two parts which are movable relative to one another and with a locking device for locking the two parts in a predetermined relative position and for unlocking the parts in order to permit movement of the parts with respect to one another.
2. Background Description
Orthopedic aids of this kind are used in many applications intended to provide compensation for temporary or permanent weaknesses of the human body and to enable functions that it would otherwise not be possible to perform. This is achieved by the orthopedic aid providing a supporting function in which, in a defined position of the parts of the aid, these parts are locked with respect to one another, and the locked position of the two parts with respect to one another corresponds to a position of use in which the patient concerned requires the supporting function afforded by the orthopedic aid. A preferred application of an orthopedic aid of this kind is in its design as an orthotic joint, where, for example, the parts of the orthotic joint connected to one another by a hinge can be locked in an extended position, for example in order to permit the function of a limb in the extended and locked position of the orthotic joint. To get to a rest position, the locking device has to be unlocked. In known orthotic knee joints, this is done, for example, by means of a Bowden cable with which the locking device can be unlocked, so that the knee joint can be flexed, for example in order to allow the patient to get to the seated position. After the patient stands up, the orthotic knee joint has to move back into the extended, locked position. If the locked position is not reached and the patient fails to notice this, there is a considerable risk of an accident happening since, when a load is placed on the orthotic knee joint that is assumed to be locked, the latter may buckle, and the buckling cannot be controlled by the patient because of the weakness of the joint. As a result, the patient may suffer a fall. For this reason, the patient has to pay particular care to ensure that the orthopedic aid is in fact really locked, for example by waiting for a sound, which indicates that the locking device has engaged, before placing any load on the aid.
The present invention starts out from the problem that, as a result of a certain degree of carelessness on the part of the user of the orthopedic aid, it is not ascertained whether the locking device is definitely locked, and, consequently, there is a risk of an accident happening. The object of the present invention is therefore to avoid, as far as possible, a situation in which the wearer of the orthopedic aid is adversely affected by incomplete locking of the parts of the aid with respect to one another.
Starting out from this problem, an orthopedic aid of the type mentioned at the outset is distinguished, according to the invention, by the fact that at least one signaling arrangement is provided which emits a particular signal for the locking state or upon unlocking of the locking device.
The signaling arrangement according to the invention thus generates a particular signal which clearly indicates the locking state (locked or unlocked) to the user of the orthopedic aid or provides a warning signal if the locking device is unlocked. In the event of inadvertent unlocking of the orthopedic aid, the latter is of importance for warning the user that the locked state no longer exists, so that, if appropriate, the user restores the locked state if unlocking has inadvertently occurred.
In a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, the orthopedic aid has at least one detection arrangement for detecting the locking state (locking and/or unlocking) of the two parts and for emitting a signal indicating the locking state. The locking state is preferably displayed as an acknowledgement signal for the user and informs him that the intended locking has actually taken place, so that it is safe to place a load on the orthopedic aid.
The signaling arrangement can also be designed to emit a signal upon unlocking and serve as a warning signal in the event of inadvertent unlocking of the locking device.
The emitted signal can be visual, acoustic, tactile and/or mechanical. The signals are preferably emitted in several forms in order to avoid a situation where the signal is not seen or not heard. In addition to the visual and acoustic emission of the signal, it can also be emitted mechanically in the form of vibrations or in tactile form, for example if a handgrip, for example of a walking aid, has to be grasped in order to use the orthopedic aid.
The detection arrangement can be designed to generate the signal electrically as a function of the locking state. In this case, the locking state itself is also preferably detected by electrical means. This can be done, for example, by the locking device having a movable locking pin whose position can be detected by the detection arrangement.
In a preferred embodiment, the locking device according to the invention can be designed to be actuated electromechanically to permit unlocking. In the case of a locking device working with a locking pin, the locking pin in this case can be arranged such that it can be drawn into a magnet coil to permit unlocking. The actuation is thus in the manner of an electromagnet.
The detection arrangement is preferably designed for electrical scanning of the position of the locking pin. This scanning can be done in the manner of a potentiometer or preferably by inductance.
By virtue of the electromechanical unlocking of the locking device, it is possible to ensure that the unlocking is possible electromechanically only when the parts of the orthopedic aid are loaded in accordance with the locked position, so that unlocking is not possible if a force not corresponding to the position of the parts in the locked state is exerted on said parts. The orthopedic aid can be designed specifically as an orthotic joint in which the parts of the orthosis can be locked in an extended position, wherein an electromagnetic actuating arrangement with a low actuating force of not more than 2 N is provided, and the orthotic joint in the extended position has a slight play, allowing a freedom of movement of the locking mechanism in the loading of the orthotic joint pertaining to the extended position, whereas, in the event of a load exerting a turning moment of the orthotic joint, the locking mechanism cannot be unlocked by the actuating arrangement on account of frictional forces. The actuating force of the electromagnetic actuating arrangement is preferably ≦1 N.
In a further preferred embodiment, the locking device is actuated by wireless transmission of an actuating signal. In the case of an orthotic joint for the leg, it is generally necessary to use a walking aid in the form of crutches or in the form of a walking frame. In this case, it is extremely advantageous if the actuating signal for wireless transmission of the command signal can be triggered on a handgrip of the walking aid.
Conversely, the signal of the signaling arrangement according to the invention can also be sent by wireless transmission to the walking aid, if said walking aid preferably has a visual and/or acoustic signal display arrangement and/or a handgrip of the walking aid is provided with a vibrator that can be actuated by the signal.
It is therefore possible to use the walking aid to trigger the actuation of the locking device, in particular for unlocking, and also to use the walking aid to receive the acknowledgement signal or warning signal emitted by the signaling arrangement according to the invention.
The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to an illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing, in which:
The orthotic leg device 1 shown in
Flat stiffening rods (not shown in
The hinge 6 can be locked in the extended position shown in
The structure of the hinge 6 is shown in greater detail in
The part 15 is designed as the lower part of the hinge, with a downwardly open receiving compartment 18 for a flat stiffening rod, which is connected to the below-knee shell 3. Correspondingly, the part 16 has an upwardly open receiving compartment 19 for receiving a stiffening rod for the thigh shell 2.
The lower part 15 of the hinge is provided with a guide pin 20 which can be moved in a guide groove 21 forming approximately a quarter of a circle and thus forms abutments for the extended position according to
In the area of the pivot 17, the lower part 15 and upper part 16 of the hinge both form circular, eye-shaped end portions 22, 23 which are fitted in one another to form the pivot 17. The end portion 22 of the lower part 15 of the hinge is provided with a radial recess 24 into which a locking pin 25 engages with a lower end 26 shaped to match the recess 24, in order to lock the lower part 15 and upper part 16 of the hinge together in the extended position shown in
The control module 8 illustrated in
The block diagram in
The battery 37 is connected via the main switch 35 to the charge socket 38 and to the key 9 for unlocking the hinge 6. When the key 9 is actuated, the sound generator 41 is triggered and emits a warning sound for unlocking. With the main switch 35 switched on, the state of charging of the battery 37 is indicated by the control light 44; for example, the control light 44 does not light if the state of charging of the battery 37 is sufficient. By actuating the key 9, a current is conveyed via the connection cable 7 into the coil 28 in the hinge 6, as a result of which the hinge is unlocked.
If the sensor 30 of the hinge 6 detects that the locking pin 25 has dropped back into the locked position, this output signal of the sensor 30 is transmitted via the connection cable 7 to the control module 8 and there, via the short-time control 39, emits acknowledgement signals, namely by the control light 36 lighting up via the short-time control 39, actuation of the vibrator 42, and actuation of the sound generator 40, unless the latter has been switched off via the switch 43.
In the embodiment shown in
Otherwise, the control module 8′ is identical to the control module 8.
Schilling, Matthias, Lidolt, Klaus
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10610399, | May 02 2013 | Vanderbilt University | Upper extremity assistance device |
10842653, | Sep 19 2007 | Proteor USA, LLC | Vacuum system for a prosthetic foot |
11207202, | May 02 2013 | Vanderbilt University | Upper extremity assistance device |
11452659, | Feb 08 2017 | EKSO BIONICS HOLDINGS, INC | Legged mobility exoskeleton device with enhanced actuator mechanism employing magnetic/electrical coupling |
11534321, | May 25 2017 | Vanderbilt University | Upper extremity assistance device |
11872175, | Nov 07 2016 | OTTOBOCK SE & CO KGAA | Device for supporting an arm |
8986233, | Mar 17 2010 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Leg assist device |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
3408660, | |||
4685926, | May 28 1985 | Otto Bock Orthopaedische Industrie Besitz- und Verwaltungs-Kommanditgesel | Arrestable knee joint |
5476441, | Sep 30 1993 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Controlled-brake orthosis |
5484389, | Feb 21 1990 | IZEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC | Instrumented orthopedic restraining device and method of use |
5823975, | Feb 21 1990 | IZEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC | Local monitoring system for an instrumented orthopedic restraining device and method therefor |
5840047, | Apr 16 1996 | Prosthetic Sensing Technologies, LLC | Sensor device for monitoring a prosthetic device |
6184797, | Feb 21 1990 | IZEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC | Communication system for an instrumented orthopedic restraining device and method therefor |
6436058, | Jun 15 2000 | DJO, LLC | System and method for implementing rehabilitation protocols for an orthopedic restraining device |
6462431, | May 21 1999 | Remote locking release device and method | |
6500138, | Apr 07 2000 | Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research | Electromechanical joint control device with wrap spring clutch |
6517503, | Sep 18 1998 | Becker Orthopedic Appliance Company | Orthosis knee joint |
6872187, | Sep 01 1998 | IZEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC | Orthoses for joint rehabilitation |
6979304, | Mar 23 2000 | BANDAGE- EN CORSETINDUSTRIE BASKO B V | Gravity operated locking hinge |
7172567, | Mar 12 2003 | OTTO BOCK HEALTH CARE GMBH | Orthopedic aid with a locking device |
7235058, | Sep 11 2002 | DJO, LLC | Lockable hinge |
20020183673, | |||
20030212356, | |||
20060224246, | |||
EP141640, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Mar 12 2004 | Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Jun 14 2004 | LIDOLT, KLAUS | Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 015531 | /0844 | |
Jun 14 2004 | SCHILLING, MATTHIAS | Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 015531 | /0844 | |
Apr 03 2018 | Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH | OTTOBOCK SE & CO KGAA | CHANGE OF NAME SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 052819 | /0217 |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Mar 18 2016 | M1551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Year, Large Entity. |
Mar 12 2020 | M1552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity. |
May 13 2024 | REM: Maintenance Fee Reminder Mailed. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Sep 25 2015 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Mar 25 2016 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Sep 25 2016 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Sep 25 2018 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Sep 25 2019 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Mar 25 2020 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Sep 25 2020 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Sep 25 2022 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Sep 25 2023 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Mar 25 2024 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Sep 25 2024 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Sep 25 2026 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |